Northern Ireland

Key points of Green Party manifesto

Green Party candidates for next month's assembly election PICTURE: Matt Bohill
Green Party candidates for next month's assembly election PICTURE: Matt Bohill Green Party candidates for next month's assembly election PICTURE: Matt Bohill

Pursing a "green new deal" scheme to improve energy efficiency in Northern Irish homes would create 15,000 jobs, the Green Party has claimed.

The initiative would also tackle fuel poverty by reducing bills and cutting carbon emissions, party leader Steven Agnew told an event to launch his party's manifesto.

Campaigning for a green new deal model, which would see public money spent installing energy efficiency measures in tens of thousands of the region's homes each year, is one of the main pledges made in the policy document.

The party also said it would:

:: Ensure that all children have access to an integrated education

:: Bring forward fresh legislation for equal marriage

:: Campaign for more political transparency in regard to donations to parties

:: Require political parties to make sure at least a third of their Assembly election candidates are women

:: Reduce food waste by introducing regulations requiring surplus food from supermarkets to be offered to food banks

:: Extend the Hunting Act, which bans the hunting of animals with hounds or other dogs

:: Introduce climate change legislation.